Twice Fated

The scent of sweat, damp earth, and blood filled the air as Selina scrubbed the stone floor of the training hall, her hands raw from the icy water in the bucket beside her. The warriors had just finished a brutal sparring session, leaving behind mud, discarded bandages, and the metallic tang of spilled blood. It was her job to clean up after them-just as it had always been.

The other pack members passed her by without a second glance, as if she were nothing more than the dirt she was wiping away. Invisible. Insignificant. Worthless.

The voices of the warriors echoed in the hall as they laughed and boasted about their fights.

"She's still here?" one of them sneered, kicking a rag in her direction. "Thought an omega like her would've run off by now."

"She's too weak for that," another chuckled.

"Can't even shift properly." Selina kept her head down, her grip tightening around the rag. She had learned long ago that fighting back only made things worse.

Her stomach growled painfully, but she ignored it. The pack ate first. Whatever remained-if anything remained-was thrown to the omegas.

The warrior closest to her sighed dramatically. "I'm starving," he said, stretching. Then, with a smirk, he picked up a half-eaten plate of food and dumped it onto the floor in front of her.

"There you go, Omega," he mocked. "Eat up."

Laughter erupted around her.

Selina's body stiffened, shame burning through her, but she didn't move.

This was life in the Bloodfang Pack-this was what it meant to be an omega.

****

Her hands trembled as she reached for the discarded food, trying to swallow her pride along with the scraps. But before her fingers could touch it-

Everything shifted.

A sudden shockwave of energy rippled through her body, freezing her in place. Her heart stopped, then pounded hard against her ribs.

The air thickened, carrying a scent she had never noticed before-wild cedarwood, stormy rain, and something darkly intoxicating.

A pull-deep, primal, undeniable-wrapped around her soul.

Her head snapped up, eyes darting across the training hall as her vision blurred for a moment. Then-

She saw him.

Zane.

The alpha.

He stood at the far end of the hall, tall and powerful, his golden eyes glowing under the dim light. He was speaking to his Beta, Marcus, but his posture suddenly stiffened-as if he felt it too.

The bond.

Selina's breath hitched.

No. It wasn't possible.

She was an omega.

Omegas didn't get fated mates, especially not alphas.

But the overwhelming sensation in her chest-the way her wolf stirred to life, whimpering his name-told her there was no mistake.

She had been fated to Zane.

Her mate.

Her Alpha.

Hope, Then Fear

For a moment, she dared to hope.

If the Moon Goddess had chosen them for each other, maybe things would change. Maybe she wouldn't have to live like this anymore. Maybe-just maybe-Zane would protect her.

She slowly stood, her heartbeat racing as she locked eyes with him.

But as soon as their gazes met-

Zane's expression darkened. Confusion flickered across his face for the briefest second before it twisted into something else-disgust.

His hands clenched into fists at his sides. His wolf growled lowly, but instead of accepting the bond, his jaw tightened.

Then, he turned away.

As if she were nothing.

As if the bond had never formed.

Selina's knees nearly buckled beneath her.

No. No, no, no...

The whispers began around her before she could even process what had happened.

"Did you see that?" "She-she looked at Alpha Zane like-"

"Impossible. She's an omega."

Selina barely heard them. All she could focus on was the way her wolf howled in pain, the mate bond pulling at her like a thread being ripped apart before it could even be woven together.

And then, realization settled over her like a cruel shadow.

He wasn't going to accept her.

He was going to reject her.

And when he did-it would break her.

****

The moment Selina realizes Zane won't accept the bond, everything around her fades into a blur-the training hall, the laughter of the warriors, the weight of the pack's disdain.

All she can hear is the rapid pounding of her heart and the roaring agony of her wolf.

But she doesn't have time to process it.

Because Zane turns back to face her.

And the entire pack is watching.

Public Humiliation

Zane takes slow, measured steps toward her, his golden eyes hard-emotionless.

Selina's breath catches in her throat.

Maybe he won't do it. Maybe he'll take time to think.

But then, his voice cuts through the silence like a blade to her chest.

"I, Alpha Zane of the Bloodfang Pack, reject you, Selina, as my mate."

Gasps ripple through the gathered pack members. A hush falls over the warriors, their amusement shifting into shock, intrigue-satisfaction.

Selina's entire body locks up as the words slam into her.

It feels like her soul is being torn apart, like someone has reached inside her chest and is shredding the mate bond before it can fully form.

Her wolf howls in agony, clawing at her from within.

But she doesn't collapse.

She refuses to.

Instead, she lifts her chin, blinking back the tears burning in her eyes.

Zane watches her reaction, waiting-expecting her to beg. To cry.

But Selina forces her shoulders to stay straight, her fists clenched at her sides. She won't give him the satisfaction.

Zane's expression hardens.

"You're weak," he says coldly, his voice loud enough for the entire pack to hear. "An omega could never be my Luna."

Laughter erupts around them.

A sharp, cruel echo of her worst fears.

Her vision swims, but she doesn't break.

She won't break.

The Final Blow

Zane steps closer, towering over her. Close enough for only her to hear his next words.

"Leave. You don't belong here."

Selina flinches.

Not because of his words-but because she already knew that.

Still, the pain of hearing it from her own fated mate slices deeper than any wound ever could.

And then-he turns away.

Just like that.

As if she doesn't matter.

As if she never did.

The warriors continue laughing, the pack whispering as they watch her.

But Selina doesn't stay to listen.

She doesn't wait for them to mock her further, to push her to the ground and remind her of what she already knows.

Instead, she turns and runs.

Away from the training hall.

Away from the pack.

Away from everything.

Her wolf is screaming, her heart shattering, her body burning with the pain of rejection.

But she doesn't stop.

She never looks back.

Because deep down-she knows.

She's not just running from them.

She's running from who she used to be.

And this time, she's never coming back.

****

Selina's senses were sharper than ever.

The rustling of leaves, the distant hoot of an owl, the slow trickle of the river behind her-she could hear it all, feel it all. Every scent in the air was distinct, layered, vivid in a way it had never been before.

But one scent stood out above the rest.

She wasn't alone.

Selina's spine stiffened. The hair on the back of her neck rose as she scanned the darkness around her. The wind shifted, carrying the unmistakable scent of wolves-but not Bloodfang wolves.

Rogues.

A low growl rumbled through the trees, followed by the unmistakable crunch of boots against the forest floor.

Selina turned sharply, dropping into a defensive stance, her newfound power humming beneath her skin.

And then, they stepped into the moonlight.

Three men.

Their clothes were torn, their bodies lean and battle-worn, but their eyes gleamed with something dangerous. These weren't ordinary pack wolves. They were hardened survivors. Wolves who lived outside the laws of any alpha.

The one in front-a man with dark, shoulder-length hair and a jagged scar across his jaw-tilted his head, assessing her with cool amusement.

"Didn't expect to find a lost little omega wandering this deep into rogue territory," he mused, his voice rough like gravel.

Selina didn't flinch.

She wasn't the same frightened omega she had been hours ago.

She lifted her chin. "I'm not lost."

The man's lips curled into a smirk. "No? Then what are you doing out here, all alone?"

Selina hesitated. She couldn't tell them the truth. That she had been rejected. That she had nowhere else to go.

Because weakness was a death sentence out here.

So instead, she simply said, "I left."

The scarred man's smirk faded slightly, his sharp eyes narrowing. He studied her-really studied her this time. Then, he exchanged a glance with the others.

There was something in the way they looked at her.

Not with disgust, like the Bloodfang Pack.

But with curiosity. Suspicion. Interest.

And then-a fourth figure stepped forward.

Selina felt him before she saw him.

A powerful presence, dark and commanding, moving through the trees like a shadow.

And then-he emerged.

Tall, broad-shouldered, with raven-black hair and piercing steel-gray eyes, he exuded an aura that was impossible to ignore. His very presence demanded attention, demanded submission-yet he was not an alpha.

Not that he needed the title.

This was a man who didn't follow orders. He gave them.

The other rogues stepped aside, their postures shifting slightly-not quite fear, but deference.

Selina swallowed hard. Who was he?

The man-Roman-stopped a few feet away from her. His gaze swept over her slowly, taking in the torn remnants of her clothing, the dirt smudging her skin, the faint but unmistakable glow in her silver eyes.

Selina fought the urge to look away.

She didn't know why, but something about the way he looked at her made her feel... exposed.

And then, he spoke.

"You're different."

His voice was deep, calm-but laced with something sharp. Knowing.

Selina stiffened.

"I don't know what you mean."

Roman took a slow step closer. "Oh, I think you do."

She swallowed, her heart pounding against her ribs. The way he looked at her was unsettling-not cruel, not mocking, but searching.

Like he saw something in her that even she didn't understand yet.

Silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken meaning.

Then, Roman spoke again.

"You have two choices, omega."

Selina's breath caught.

"One," he continued, "you keep running. Stay weak. Hide in the shadows, waiting for the world to swallow you whole." His gaze darkened. "And it will."

Selina's fingers curled into fists.

"And the second?" she asked.

Roman's lips twitched-not quite a smile, but something close.

"You train."

A sharp breeze rustled the leaves around them, carrying the scent of rain, earth, and something undeniably electric.

Selina stared at him.

The Bloodfang Pack had spent years breaking her down.

Zane had shattered her completely.

But here, now, standing in the middle of the wilderness, facing a pack of rogues who didn't look at her with pity or disgust-she felt something new.

Something dangerous.

Something unstoppable.

She met Roman's gaze, and for the first time in her life, she didn't hesitate.

"I choose to fight."

****

Roman's eyes flickered with something unreadable at Selina's words, but he didn't respond right away. Instead, he turned to the other rogues, his expression unreadable.

"She stays," he said simply.

The scarred rogue-Silas-arched a brow, clearly unimpressed. "You're just going to let her in?" He scoffed. "She's an omega."

Selina bristled at the word.

Roman didn't look away from her as he replied.

"If she survives the night," he said.

Selina's stomach clenched.

The night?

Before she could ask what he meant, Roman motioned toward the dark forest behind them. "You want to train, omega? Prove it."

A tense silence fell over the group.

Then, one of the other rogues-a wiry man with sun-bleached hair-let out a low chuckle. "You're really going to throw her into the pit?"

Selina's pulse quickened. The pit?

Roman's lips curved slightly. "No better way to see if she's worth keeping."

Silas smirked. "Well, this should be fun."

Selina had no idea what they were talking about, but she refused to let them see her fear.

She lifted her chin. "Fine."

Roman studied her for a long moment before nodding once. "Follow me."

****

The rogue camp wasn't far. Tucked deep in the forest, hidden by thick brush and towering trees, it was nothing like the structured packhouses she had known.

It was raw. Primitive. Survivalist.

Fires burned in small pits, illuminating makeshift shelters and the sharp glint of blades being sharpened. Wolves-real wolves, not just men in human form-prowled the perimeter, their eyes glowing in the darkness.

And in the center of it all... was the pit.

Selina's stomach clenched as she stared at the massive, sunken fighting ring.

The earth was stained dark, trampled down from countless battles. It smelled of sweat, blood, and something feral.

A ring of rogues gathered around the edge, their expressions hungry for entertainment.

Roman turned to her. "You wanted to fight. Here's your first lesson."

Selina swallowed hard. "What do I have to do?"

Roman nodded toward the other side of the pit.

A massive, broad-shouldered rogue with wild red hair and a scarred lip was already stepping in. His arms were thick with muscle, his knuckles cracked and scarred.

Selina's stomach dropped.

"I have to fight him?" she asked, voice low.

Roman tilted his head slightly. "Fight. Survive. Prove you belong."

The red-haired rogue grinned, cracking his knuckles. "Try not to die too quickly, omega."

Laughter rippled through the watching rogues.

Selina clenched her fists, something hot curling in her chest.

She wouldn't back down.

Not now.

Not ever again.

She stepped forward. Into the pit.

The circle closed around her.

And then-the fight began.

****

Selina barely had time to take a breath before the rogue lunged.

He moved fast for someone so big-too fast. She tried to dodge, but his fist slammed into her ribs like a sledgehammer, knocking the air from her lungs. She staggered back, gasping, pain flaring through her side.

The crowd erupted in laughter.

"Too slow, omega," the red-haired rogue sneered, cracking his knuckles. "This isn't some cushy pack fight. Out here, we don't go easy."

Selina gritted her teeth, forcing herself to straighten.

She wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing her fall.

The rogue charged again, but this time, she was ready.

She dropped low at the last second, twisting away from his outstretched arms. His momentum carried him forward, leaving his side open.

Selina reacted on instinct. She drove her elbow into his ribs, then spun and kicked his knee-hard.

He grunted, stumbling, but barely seemed affected. He whirled on her, his eyes burning with something between irritation and amusement.

"Well, look at that," he mused, rolling his shoulder. "The little omega has claws."

Selina didn't respond. She couldn't waste breath on words.

Not when she needed every ounce of energy to survive.

A Rogue's Lesson

The rogue came at her again-but slower this time. More controlled.

Selina realized he was testing her now.

No more careless swings. He wanted to see what she could do.

Fine. She'd show him.

He threw a punch, aiming for her face. She ducked, shifting her weight at the last second and bringing her knee up-right into his stomach.

It connected solidly.

The rogue grunted, but instead of staggering, he caught her leg.

Selina's heart lurched.

Before she could react, he yanked her off balance and slammed her into the dirt.

Pain exploded across her back. The world spun.

The crowd roared.

Selina gasped, her body screaming in protest as she forced herself up. But the rogue was already there, grabbing her by the front of her shirt and hauling her upright.

She barely had time to react before his fist crashed into her jaw.

Stars burst behind her eyes.

She hit the ground hard, dirt and blood filling her mouth. The metallic taste spread across her tongue, sharp and bitter.

This is it, a cruel voice whispered in her mind. This is why you'll never be anything more.

But then-a different voice.

One from deep inside her.

You are more than what they made you believe.

The memory of the vision slammed into her. The silver-eyed wolves. The forgotten bloodline.

The power beneath her skin stirred.

Selina's eyes snapped open.

And this time, she didn't feel weak.

Unleashing the Wolf

The rogue bent over her, reaching for her.

Selina moved.

Faster than she ever had before.

She grabbed his arm and twisted, snapping his wrist back at an unnatural angle.

The rogue shouted in pain-but Selina didn't stop. She used his own weight against him, flipping him over her shoulder and sending him crashing into the dirt.

Gasps echoed through the crowd.

Selina didn't give him time to recover.

She pounced, straddling his chest, her fist slamming into his face with a sickening crack. Then again. And again.

Something primal took over.

Her breathing was ragged, her knuckles stung, but she didn't stop.

She wouldn't stop.

Not until he knew.

Not until all of them knew.

She wasn't just some weak, disposable omega.

She was more.

The rogue beneath her groaned, his face bloodied. His body went slack-defeated.

Selina slowly straightened, her breath heavy, her silver eyes glowing.

The arena fell into stunned silence.

Then-a slow clap.

Selina turned sharply.

Roman stood at the edge of the pit, arms crossed, an amused smirk on his lips.

"Well," he mused, his steel-gray eyes gleaming with something unreadable. "Looks like you're not as helpless as I thought."

Selina wiped the blood from her mouth and met his gaze head-on.

"I told you," she said, voice steady.

"I choose to fight."